The above gentleman is on trial in Boston, accused of 19 murders and assorted mayhem over many decades. Much of the time he was working with the FBI.
James "Whitey" Bulger spent nine years from his late 20s in the federal prison system, including stints at Alcatraz & Leavenworth Federal Penitentiaries. He allegedly then went on to become a gangland leader, extorting millions from Boston area businesses and terrorizing the New England region, all the while a confidential informant to the FBI.
Bulger was well-protected. The FBI leaked details about informants to Bulger & associates; some were subsequently murdered. What we know is tip of the iceberg.
This is a great lesson on the dangers of a secret police.
